Growing Old…

Writing a blog every week for seven months can be a struggle. Particularly in figuring out what to write. There’s only so much one can write about money. So, I’ve tended, in the past several blogs to write about life in general. And despite writing a blog about death two weeks ago, I’m going to write about it again because this story really altered my perspective about growing old. 

My colleague Cailin had a good friend who recently passed away. She had colon cancer and would have been 34 this past week. I didn’t know Bridget but Cailin would always invite me to fundraisers that she was organizing on Bridget’s behalf to help cover medical expenses for treatment. Cailin would always update us at work on Bridget’s progress. The other day when I was on Facebook, I noticed a post from Cailin. It was Bridget’s birthday and Cailin wrote about how Bridget always loved having her birthday on the day of the dead. The way the post was written you could tell that Bridget had passed away. I asked Cailin later that day and indeed it was the case; Bridget had died in May from colon cancer at 34.

One of the things Cailin told me that day that really stuck with me was about how Bridget would often see elderly people and comment that she really would like to grow old some day. It struck me because I often times complain about getting older and I often say that I don’t want to look old or feel old or deal with all the things that elderly people have to deal with. So, all this time, I’ve spent complaining about getting older, and the one thing that Bridget had hoped for was to get old. It’s amazing how often we take things for granted. Instead of worrying about getting older, I should embrace it and appreciate it and be grateful that I am indeed growing older. Because the opposite is much worse.  

After my conversation with Cailin, I promised myself that I will be much more appreciative and accepting and happy that I have the opportunity to grow old. And hopefully with all of the things that the Project Money experience has taught me, I will be able to do all the things I really want and hope to do when I’m older. 

One of my goals when I applied to Project Money was to figure out a healthy balance between having fun now and putting money away so I can enjoy life after I retire. I can honestly say that I am much closer to having that balance. It’s not to say that I don’t still think about just going out and buying something that I want. But now I think twice about it. And then usually I forget about it and never end up buying it (that and I want to win Project Money so I’m trying not to buy anything but the necessities at the moment!!)  

I’ve written about death in the last few blogs. And I know it’s not very upbeat. But in death, just as in life, there are lessons. And even though I never knew Bridget nor did I even meet her, her life has had an impact on how I now choose to live mine. I hope that I can say the same when I leave this world – both for people who knew me and those who only knew of me.